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We're going on a ski trip in California this winter. Caltrans says I need to have tire chains on board. Can anyone suggest some?

Murgatroyd

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I have a 4-door base with Big Bend wheels and tires, so tires are 255/75/17 Bridgestone Dueler A/T. Thanks in advance! Don't know that I need the chains but I'd like to have them already. They get marked up a lot if you have to buy them up on the mountain.
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wade65

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Buy them on Amazon a few weeks before your trip. If you end up not needing them, you return them. As long as they are unused and within 30 days (I think), you are good.
 

MJBbase22

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Any brand from your local NAPA or whatever auto parts store. You won't need them but they might ask to see them. I leave mine in the bag in the back when I go up-don't even think they are the right tire size since I changed my wheels.

Separately, as some wheeler's will confirm, actual chains are a useful recovery item in your arsenal for big mud or snow, so maybe not a bad expense if that's your thing.
 

RHeinz

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Last time I saw a requirement for chains, All Season tires were an acceptable alternative. Then again, I’ve lived in Houston the last 35 years, so what do I know. Did do the Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steamboat Springs about 8 years ago. No chains there….
 

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Honest advice, if you're going into one of the chain control areas you should be running proper snow tires as well.
 
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Theherofails

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I don't have recommendations on a particular set, but my advice is to completely avoid the "new style" snow chains that incorporate any plastic.

Ford Bronco We're going on a ski trip in California this winter. Caltrans says I need to have tire chains on board. Can anyone suggest some? 1663697272503

There are a thousand variations, but they mostly follow this concept.


My buddy and I were out winter camping in a few feet of snow and had to use the only tire chains he had - Amazons recommended. Half plastic, half metal. Short story long, we ended up with a stuck vehicle overnight in temps well below freezing as the tire chain broke and shredded the tire.
 

thatspecialbeat

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Not sure about up north. But here is the deal for So-Cal mountains.

When I was a kid, they would regularly check chains and tires when there was snowy weather or a storm was coming.

Now they may check sometimes but the only time I have really seen it enforced is when there is a big storm on its way and they don't want idiots getting stranded up the hill without a way to get back down.

The way locals do it is to get the cheapest chains you can possibly find (literally, does not need to fit your tires) and put the box (can just be an empty box) by the back window. CHP will just shine a light and confirm the chains are there. They won't have you put them on.

Also, I would never actually put chains (or even cables) on the Bronco.
 

805Bronco

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Although I don't know CHP's policy when it comes to chain areas, every time I've driven to Mammoth or Tahoe with snow on the roadway, CHP has looked at my A/T tires and just said "You've got All-Terrain tires - you are okay to pass". I'm not at all sure if that is their policy or an anomaly.
 

Jdc

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Although I don't know CHP's policy when it comes to chain areas, every time I've driven to Mammoth or Tahoe with snow on the roadway, CHP has looked at my A/T tires and just said "You've got All-Terrain tires - you are okay to pass". I'm not at all sure if that is their policy or an anomaly.
This is what happened to my group when I travelled to mammoth years back. I believe they also require 4wd or AWD, obviously not a problem with a bronco.
 

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Tricky Dick

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Although I don't know CHP's policy when it comes to chain areas, every time I've driven to Mammoth or Tahoe with snow on the roadway, CHP has looked at my A/T tires and just said "You've got All-Terrain tires - you are okay to pass". I'm not at all sure if that is their policy or an anomaly.
This is fairly typical I think. I'd look up the actual law before spending the money. Sometimes it will read "required unless traction tires are used" or similar verbiage.
 

805Bronco

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This is what happened to my group when I travelled to mammoth years back. I believe they also require 4wd or AWD, obviously not a problem with a bronco.
I was in my '92 FSB each time, so yes... tires and a Bronco were parts of the equation :)
 
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Tilzbow

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I’ve lived in Reno for 45 years and I’ve never heard of a chain requirement for 4WD vehicles in the Sierras. If you’ve got a 4WD vehicle with snow tires you’re good as long as the road is open. When it gets really bad the requirement is either chains mandatory for 2wd vehicles or 4WD with snow tires. The next step is closure. I don’t know of any all terrain tires that aren’t also rated as snow tires. They also don’t look at you hard is you’re in a 4WD vehicle.
 

Hoser!!

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I signed something at ford during purchase that you shouldn’t use chains. Use cable only.
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